Mechanical and electrical control system for a door panic control device

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling both mechanically and electrically a panic control device for a door. The panic control device is operable to retract a pair of bolts movably mounted in the door. A main solenoid has a plunger connected to the linkages which connect the panic control device to the bolts. By moving the plunger of the main solenoid, the linkages are moved to retract the bolts. An electrical switch is connected between a source of electrical energy and the main solenoid and has an actuating arm movable by the linkages. Initial downward movement of the panic control device causes the linkages to actuate the switch thereby connecting the main solenoid to a source of electrical energy and allowing the main solenoid to complete the retraction of the bolts. A second solenoid has its plunger connected to a dogging mechanism which is provided with a stop positionable adjacent the panic crash bar. Operation of the second solenoid prevents outward movement of the panic crash bar thereby insuring that the bolts remain in the retracted position even though the main solenoid is deactivated.

United States Patent [1 1 Diehl Apr. 2, 1974 MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICALCONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DOOR PANIC CONTROL DEVICE [76] Inventor: Robert B.Diehl, 3200 Longview Ave., Bloomington, lnd. 47401 22 Filed: Feb. 24,1972 21 Appl.No.:229,049

3,097,007 7/1963 Eichacker et al.

3,345,099 10/1967 Paul at al 292/21 2,082,806 6/1937 Michel 70/2833,677,043 7/1972v COX 70/283 X Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT Asystem for controlling both mechanically and electrically a paniccontrol device for a door. The panic control device is operable toretract a pair of bolts movably mounted in the door. A main solenoid hasa plunger connected to the linkages which connect the panic controldevice to the bolts. By moving the plunger of the main solenoid, thelinkages are moved to retract the bolts. An electrical switch isconnected between a source of electrical energy and the main solenoidand has an actuating arm movable by the linkages. lnitial downwardmovement of the panic control device causes the linkages to actuate theswitch thereby connecting the main solenoid to a source of electricalenergy and allowing the main solenoid to complete the retraction of thebolts. A second solonoid has its plunger connected to a doggingmechanism which is provided with a stop positionable adjacent the paniccrash bar. Operation of the second solenoid prevents outward movement ofthe panic crash bar thereby insuring that the bolts remain in theretracted position even though the main solenoid is deactivated.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEMFOR A DOOR PANIC CONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention is in the field of electrically andmechanically controlled doors.

2. Description of the Prior Art A respresentative sample of the priorart is disclosed in the following US. Pat. Nos.:

1,72l,730 issued to H. E. Goss:

2,729,089 issued to A. L. Pelcin;

3,097,007 issued to H. A. Eichacker et al.; and

3,345,099 issued to G. D. Paul et al.

The door described herein performs all of the required functions of amanually operated panic type of door as required by UnderwritersLaboratories and the Industry. In addition, it is electricallycontrollable. The door disclosed herein is advantageous over the priorart doors in that only slight manual pressure on the crash bar isrequired for the device to automatically unlatch itself. Prior art doorsrequire manual pressure throughout the entire unlatching process. Someof the prior art doors have locking bolts which become disengaged as thedoor swings open and before the mechanism for holding the boltsretracted has been actuated. This results in the door swinging open andclosed with the bolts extended. In such cases, the extended boltsusually interfere with the door jamb as the door closes. Anotheradvantage of the door disclosed herein is that a remote switch isprovided which will unlatch a particular panic device automatically.Also, the remote switch can unlatch several panic devicessimultaneously. In the prior art doors, it is necessary in a lockedbuilding for someone to go inside and manually push the crash bar downon each door to unlatch the door.

Another advantage of the door disclosed herein is that it is providedwith a remote switch which will automatically dog or retain a panicdevice or several panic devices in an unlatched position for longperiods of time. In the prior art doors, each panic device mustindividually be manually dogged and subsequently undogged or lockedmanually one at a time. If for instance, a school building with severalentrances has this task assigned to one person, then he must move fromdoor to door and entrance to entrance carefully unlocking or lockingeach door. At times, only a few doors are unlocked initially to permitentry of early arriving maintenance people, teachers, etc., with all ofthe doors being unlatched at a later period in time. The systemdisclosed herein will allow control of the doors from a remote location.

The door disclosed herein is also provided with a warning device whichwill signal any appreciable movement of the crash bar. This warningdevice can be wired to indicate by door, by entrance, or by building. Adogging bolt is provided for holding the entire bolt mechanism in aretracted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is anapparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkages operablyconnecting the bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving the bartoward the door causes the bolt to be retracted unlocking the doorcomprising electrical control means connected to the linkages andoperable to retract the bolt unlocking the door.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical andmechanical control system for controlling the panic crash device on adoor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a monitoringsystem to indicate appreciable movement of the panic crash device of adoor.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved door having a mechanically and electrically controlled paniccontrol device.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a door incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the electrical circuitry for the door of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the portion of thedoor viewed generally in the direction of arrows 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the door and dogging bolt 50 shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of lock viewed in the direction ofarrows 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting anunderstanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now bemade to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and it willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a fragmentaryperspective view of a door 10 which is hinged in the conventional way tothe door frame. These doors are quite conventional, having glass 11 anda panic crash bar 12. A pair of identical bolt mechanisms 13 and 14 arerespectively mounted to the top and bottom of door 10 and are operablyconnected to panic crash bar 12. Each mechanism 13 and 14 has a lockingbolt 15 hingedly mounted thereto. Bolts 15 are connected to panic crashbar 12 and may be withdrawn into the door by pivoting crash bar 12downward in the direction of arrow 16. That is, as bar 12 is pivoted inthe direction of arrow 16, bolt 15 of mechanism 13 will pivot downwardin the direction of arrow 17, whereas bolt 15 of mechanism 14 will pivotupward in the direction of arrow 18, thereby allowing the door to beswung open in the conventional manner. In the closed position, bolts 15of mechanism 13 and 14 project into recesses formed in the thresholdand/or floor and the door jamb thereby preventing opening of the doorwithout retracting the bolts.

Panic crash bar 12 has a horizontally extending rod fixedly mounted to apair of crash bar brackets pivotally mounted to the door. Each crash barbracket is mounted adjacent to the opposite sides of the door. Forexample, crash bar bracket 19 mounted adjacent the free edge of the dooris shown in FIG. 1. Bracket 19 is pivotally mounted by pin 20 to door10. The inner end 21 of bracket 19 is bifurcated with member 22 havingits lower end pivotally mounted to cam 23 which is rotatably mounted bypin 24 to door 10. A second member 25 has its bottom end pivotallymounted to cam 23 and its top end connected to bolt 15 of mechanism 13.Thus, as bracket 19 is pivoted downward in the direction of arrow 16,end 21 will move upwardly along with member 22 causing cam 23 to rotatein the direction of arrow 32 thereby causing member 25 and bolt 15 ofmechanism 13 to move downward in the direction of arrow 17. Door has ahollow frame which is sufficiently large to receive members 22 and 25,cam 23 and the other elements to be described later in thisspecification.

Link 26 is slidably mounted in door 10 and extends freely through guide33 fixedly secured to the door. Link 26 also extends through a helicalspring 34 which is positioned between guide 33 and ring 35 fixedlysecured to the link. The spacing between guide 33 and ring 35 is suchthat when link 26 moves upwardly, the spring is compressed therebyurging the link in its normal downward position. The top end 37 of link26 is pivotally connected by pin means 38 to end 21 of the bracket 19.The bottom end of link 26 is fixedly secured to an inverted U-shapedbracket 27 which extends around main solenoid 28 fixedly secured to thedoor. A connecting shaft 39 is fixedly secured and extends between thetwo arms of the inverted U-shaped bracket 27 and passes freely throughmovable plunger 29 of solenoid 28 and the top end 40 of link 31. Thebottom end of link 31 is connected to bolt of mechanism 14. By pivotingbracket 19 downward in the direction of arrow 16 causing end 21 to moveupwardly, link 26 and bracket 27 are also caused to move upwardlythereby pulling link 31 and bolt 15 of mechanism 14 in the upwarddirection of arrow 18. Shaft 39 extends freely through slit 41 ofmovable plunger 29. As a result, when shaft 39 moves upwardly along withtop end 40 of link 31, shaft 39 will move towards the top of slot 41 ofplunger 29 thereby allowing the plunger to remain in a stationaryposition. It may therefore be seen that as panic crash bar 12 is pivoteddownward, bolt 15 of mechanism 13 and 14 are withdrawn simultaneouslyinto the door.

A snap switch S-7 is mounted to door 10 and has a movable arm 42 with alower end in engagement with the cam surface of cam 23. Switch S-7 isconnected between solenoid 28 and a source of electrical energy. SwitchS-7 is normally opened when the crash bar is in the upward position.When the bar is moved donwnwardly in the direction of arrow 16 causingcam 23 to rotate in the direction of arrow 32, the enlarged end 43 ofcam 23 will force arm 42 upwardly thereby closing switch S-7 andconnecting the source of electrical energy to solenoid 28. By connectingsolenoid 28 to a source of electrical energy, the movable plunger 29 iswithdrawn into the solenoid thereby causing upward movement of links 26and 31 which in turn move bolt 15 of mechanism 14 in the, direction ofarrow 18 and further cause bracket 19 to pivot downwardly causing bolt15 of mechanism- 13 to move downwardly in the direction of arrow 17.Thus, when the apparatus of FIG. 1 is connected to a source ofelectrical energy, the crash bar bracket may be manually pivoteddownward a slight amount with the remaining withdrawal of bolt 15 beingelectrically assisted by the activation of switch S-7 and solenoid 28.

A second solenoid 44 is fixedly mounted to door 10 and has a movableplunger 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) pivotally connected to the horizontal portionof an inverted L- shaped link 46 pivotally mounted by pin 48 to door 10.The bottom end of link 46 is connected to bolt 50 of dogging mechanism47. A slot 49 is provided in the top wall of housing 48' of mechanism 47through which link 46 projects. As bolt 50 is withdrawn into housing 48,link 46 pivots. A pair of opposed L-shaped legs 51 and 52 extend throughthe bottom wall of housing 48' having ends spaced apart forming gap 54through which finger 55 may pass. Housing 48 is fixedly secured withindoor 10 with legs 51 and 52 freely projecting through the bottom wall ofhousing 48' and being rigidly attached to bolt 50. Thus, as bolt 50 iswithdrawn, legs 51 and 52 will move in the direction of arrrow 56 withrespect to housing 48' and finger 55. Finger 55 projects into recess 53formed between the vertical portions of legs 51 and 52. Bolt 50 isalways retracted when the door is closed since the door jamp is notprovided with a recess for receiving bolt 50.

The electrical circuitry will now be described by referring to FIG. 2. Asuitable source of electrical energy, such as volts alternating current,is connected to termimals 60 and 61 which are connected to the primarycoils of step-down transformers 62 and 63. Indicator light L-l isconnected across the primary coil of transformer 62 whereas indicatorlight L-3 is connected across the primary coil of transformer 63. Anormally opened switch S-l is connected between terminal 61 and theprimary coil of transformer 62 whereas switch 8-3 is connected betweenterminal 61 and the primary coil of transformer 63. Thus, wheneverswitch 8-1 is closed, energy will be applied to the primary coil oftransformer 61 and light L-l will light. Likewise, whenever switch S-3is closed, electrical power will be applied across the primary coil oftransformer 63 thereby lighting light L-3.

The secondary coil of transformer 63 is connected through rectifier 64to the control coil of soleniod 44. Thus, it may be seen that wheneverswitch S-3 is closed, electrical energy will be applied to solenoid 44thereby causing plunger 45 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be retracted, thereby alsocausing retraction of bolt 50 into door 10. Retraction of plunger 45causes link 46 to pivot so that the bottom end of link 46 moves in thedirection of arrow 56 (FIG. 3). The bottom end of link 46 is connectedto bolt 50, therefore, also causing bolt 50 to move in the direction ofarrow 56.

The oppsoite ends 65 and 66 of the secondary coil of transformer 62 areconnected across the control coil of solenoid 28. Snap switch 8-7 isconnected between end 65 of the secondary coil and end 67 of solenoid28. Thus, by closing switch S1, an electrical assist will be provided inretracting bolts 15. As previously explained, whenever panic crash bar12 (FIG. 1) is pivoted downward in the direction of arrow 16 whileswitch 8-1 is closed, switch S7 will thereby be closed by the action ofcam 23 applying power to solenoid 28 thereby providing an assist inretracting bolts 15.

End 65 of transformer 62 is connected through switch S-2 to end 67 ofsolenoid 28 with end 68 of the solenoid being connected to end 66 oftransformer 62. Thus, by closing switch S-1 and switch S-2, solenoid 28will automatically be activated thereby retracting bolts 15 even thoughthe panic crash bar is not manually pushed downwardly. An indicatorlight L-2 is connected between contact 69 of switch S-2 and end 66 oftransformer 62 thereby allowing for a visual indication whenever switchS-1 and S-2 are closed at the same time. It may therefore be seen thatbolts may be retracted into the door by an operator control from aremote location even though the panic crash bar is not manually pushed.

A fourth switch 8-4 is connected between end 66 of transformer 62 andend 68 of solenoid 28 and is a normally closed switch giving a closedcircuit for action triggered by switches S-2 or 8-7. Another switch 8-5is connected between end 66 of transformer 62 through L-6 to 8-7 so acompleted circuit is available to light the warning light L-6 whenswitch S-7 is closed by movement of the crash bar. Indicator light L-Sis connected between contact 70 of switch S-5 and end 65 of transformer62 so as to indicate whenever switch S-5 is closed. A warning light L6is connected between contact 70 of switch S-5 and contact 69 of switch8-2. When switches S-1 and S-5 are closed, warning light L-6 will signalany appreciable movement of the panic crash bar. In many cases,undesired entry is gained into a building by simply inserting a wire rodbetween the door and door jamp and then grasping the panic crash barwith the wire rod and pulling downwardly. With the invention disclosedherein, the door may be monitored by simply closing switches S-1 and 8-6and opening switches S-4 and 8-2 thereby allowing the source ofelectrical energy to be connected to warning light L-6 whenever switch8-7 is closed by downward movement of the panic crash bar. The circuitryabove line A-A is located at the remote control station whereas thecircuitry below line B-B is located in door 10.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the door of FIG. 1 illustrating bolt50 withdrawn into the door. A small plate 58 is slidably mounted withinthe door and may be moved in a direction towards or away from bolt 50.The curved outer surface 63 of bolt 50 is provided with a recess 57 forreceiving the outer edge portion of plate 58 when bolt 50 is retractedand plate 58 is located at the extended position. Plate 58 is providedwith a slot 64 which slidingly receives mounting pin 62'. A smallaperture 60' is provided in the lower outer corner of the plate toenable insertion of a small tool to assist in sliding the plate towardsor away from bolt 50. Opening 59 of the door is of sufficient size so asto allow bolt 50 to project therethrough and is further enlarged in area61 to facilitate the retraction of plate 58 by forcing the plate to theright by means of a tool inserted through aperture 60. When plate 58 isenlarged with the bolt as shown in FIG. 4, finger 55 (FIG. 3) will bepositioned over the horizontal portion of leg 51 thereby preventingmovement of the panic crash bar and locking of the door. To manually dogthe door, that is, to secure the panic crash bar in the unlockedposition, the panic crash bar should be depressed and the door should beopened, with plate 58 then being extended against bolt 50 which shouldbe depressed as shown in FIG. 4. Finger 55 will thus be immediately overthe horizontal portion of leg 51.

To electronically dog the door, that is, to secure the panic crash barin the unlocked position, switches S-1 and 8-2 are closed therebyactuating the main solenoid 28. Next switch 8-3 is closed therebyactuating solenoid 6 44 causing bolt 50 to retract and positioning leg51 beneath finger 55. Switch S-2 may then be opened deactivatingsolenoid 28. The panic crash bar remains in the dogged position. Torelease the panic crash bar, swtich S-2 should be closed and switch S-3opened. Bolt 50 will extend and finger 55 will pass through gap 54.Switch S-2 may then be closed.

When the door is opened by depressing the panic control bar with plate58 in the retracted position, bolt 50 will move outwardly with respectto the door thereby positioning finger 55 immediately over thehorizontal portion of leg 52. This will therefore prevent the paniccrash bar from pivoting upward and will insure that bolts 15 remainretracted until the door closes. Closing of the door will result in theretraction of bolt 50 since bolt 50 will contact the door jamb therebyallowing finger 55 to pass through gap 54 allowing the panic crash parto pivot upward and bolts 15 to extend once again outwardly into thedoor jamb. Thus, bolts 15 will not be slammed against the door jamb whenthe door closes since they will be withdrawn into the door.

Door 10 is provided with a key lock mounted to plate 71 secured to theouter wall of the door. A thumb knob 72 positioned beneath the keyholeis mounted on shaft 74 which extends through plate 71. Gear 75 isfixedly mounted on shaft 74 which may be rotated by turning knob 72. Theteeth of gear 75 are in meshing engagement with the teeth of rack 73which extends vertically upward having an enlarged ear 78 positionedbeneath end 21 of crash bar bracket 19. Suitable bracketry is providedfor slidably mounting rack 73. By turning knob 72, rack 73 may be forcedupwardly so as to be positioned immediately beneath and against thecrash bar bracket thereby preventing downward movement of the paniccrash bar. Rack 73 may be locked in place by inserting a key into thelock keyhole and turning the key to the appropriate position therebyforcing a locking bolt 77 (FIG. 5) into engagement with disc 76 fixedlymounted to shaft 74 adjacent to gear 75. Locking bolt 77 is aring-shaped top end 79 through which cam 80 projects. The bottom end 81of locking bolt 77 is slidable through guide 82 securely mounted to thedoor. Recess 8 3 is provided in disc 76 for end 81 to project therebylocking rack 73 in place. Cam. 80 is connected to the casing receivingthekey and is rotated when the key and casing are rotated.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. Avariation of the invention includes a plurality of doors wired togetherso as to actuate simultaneously as a result of a signal provided from aremote location.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for a door havinga panic crash bar and linkages operablyconnecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving saidbar toward the door causes said bolt to be retracted unlocking the,

door comprising:

electrical control means connectedto said linkages and operable toretract said bolt unlocking the said electrical control means includes amain solenoid mounted to said door with a movable plunger connected andoperative to move said linkages to retract said bolt and with a mainsolenoid actuating switch located remotely from the door to connect saidmain solenoid with a source of electrical energy;

an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable byinitial movement of said bar and operable to connect said solenoid tosaid source of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop;and,

a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable toconnect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, saiddogging solenoid having a second plunger movable to position said stopagainst said bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movableplate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lugto keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to andbetween said second plunger and said stop.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar bylinks whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving saidbar toward the door and further comprising:

a cam rotatably mounted to said door and pivotally connected to saidlinks; and wherein:

said actuating means of said assist switch is an arm with an end engagedwith said cam.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

said monitor means includes an indicator light connected between saidassist switch and said source of electrical energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising:

a rack slidably mounted in said door;

a lockable gear rotatably mounted to said door and in meshing engagementwith said rack so that rotation of said gear in one direction causessaid rack to move against a portion of said panic crash bar locking saidbolts in the retracted position.

7. An apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkagesoperably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door wherebymoving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retractedunlocking the door comprising:

electrical control means connected to said linkages and operable toretract said bolt unlocking the door; and,

an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable byinitial movement of said bar and operable to connect said electricalcontrol means to a source of electrical energy to finish retracting saidbolt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising:

a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop;and,

a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable toconnect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, saiddogging solenoid having a plunger movable to position said stop againstsaid bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movableplate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lugto keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to andbetween said plunger and said stop.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar bylinks whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving saidbar toward the door.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,80l,l44 Dated April 2 1974 Inventor-(H) Robert B. Diehl,

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1. In column 3, lines 1 and 2 presently read "its lower end pivotallymounted to cam 23 which is rotatably mounted by pin 24 to door 10. Asecond mem-". A portion of the description has been omitted and thelines should read "its lower end pivotally mounted to end 21. The topend of member 22 is pivotally mounted to cam 23 which is rotatablymounted by pin 24 to door 10. A second mem".

line 37, "slit" should read "slot".

2. In column 3,

3. In column 3, line 50, "donwn-" should'read "down-". 4. In column 4,line 16, "arr-" should read "ar".

5. In column 4, line 20, "Jamp" should read "Jamb".

6. In column 4, line 36, the number "6l""should be "62". 7. In column 4,line 62, after the number "62" and before the word "is", please insertthe word "also".

8. In column 5, line 24, "jamp" should read "j'amb". 9. In column 5,line 27, "5-6" should read "5-5". 10. In column 5, line 51, "enlarged"should be changed to read "engaged".

Signed and sealed this. 29th da of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: I

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-P69 fi U.S. GOVERNMENT PRNTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

1. An apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkagesoperably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door wherebymoving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retractedunlocking the door comprising: electrical control means connected tosaid linkages and operable to retract said bolt unlocking the door;electrical monitor means mounted to said door operable to indicatemovement of said bolt by said bar; said electrical control meansincludes a main solenoid mounted to said door with a movable plungerconnected and operative to move said linkages to retract said bolt andwith a main solenoid actuating switch located remotely from the door toconnect said main solenoid with a source of electrical energy; an assistswitch mounted to said door with actuating means movable by initialmovement of said bar and operable to connect said solenoid to saidsource of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a dogging mechanism mountedto said door having a first movable stop; and, a dogging solenoidmounted in said door having switch means operable to connect saiddogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, said dogging solenoidhaving a second plunger movable to position said stop against said barpreventing outward movement of said bar.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein: said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, saidmovable plate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable againstsaid lug to keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug isconnected to and between said second plunger and said stop.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein: said door has another locking boltoperably connected to said bar by links whereby both bolts may besimultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward the door and furthercomprising: a cam rotatably mounted to said door and pivotally connectedto said links; and wherein: said actuating means of said assist switchis an arm with an end engaged with said cam.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein: said monitor means includes an indicator light connectedbetween said assist switch and said source of Electrical energy.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5 and further comprising: a rack slidably mounted insaid door; a lockable gear rotatably mounted to said door and in meshingengagement with said rack so that rotation of said gear in one directioncauses said rack to move against a portion of said panic crash barlocking said bolts in the retracted position.
 7. An apparatus for a doorhaving a panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting said bar to alocking bolt of the door whereby moving said bar toward the door causessaid bolt to be retracted unlocking the door comprising: electricalcontrol means connected to said linkages and operable to retract saidbolt unlocking the door; and, an assist switch mounted to said door withactuating means movable by initial movement of said bar and operable toconnect said electrical control means to a source of electrical energyto finish retracting said bolt.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 and furthercomprising: a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a firstmovable stop; and, a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switchmeans operable to connect said dogging solenoid to a source ofelectrical energy, said dogging solenoid having a plunger movable toposition said stop against said bar preventing outward movement of saidbar.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said mechanism includes adogging lug and a movable plate, said movable plate is slidably mountedin said door and is movable against said lug to keep said lug in theretracted position, said lug is connected to and between said plungerand said stop.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said door hasanother locking bolt operably connected to said bar by links wherebyboth bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward thedoor.